5. Bachelor of Medical Science and BMedSc/MBBS

This chapter is intended to give enrolment advice to undergraduate Bachelor of Medical Science students in the Faculty of Science. You will find answers to frequently asked questions covering all students.

Following this are specific summaries of the requirements for each degree including examples of how unit of study choices can be made over the duration of the degree. With some degrees there is information on recommended combinations of units of study, especially in first year, to help guide you to your goals.

It is stressed that the information in this chapter is intended to be a rough guide only. All students will have to decide for themselves how to plan their degree to suit their own particular interests and situation.

All students are expected to read the degree resolutions for their course before they commence their studies, and from time to time during their studies. Undergraduate degree resolutions appear in chapter 2. The tables of undergraduate units of study available for each degree appear towards the end of this chapter. Unit of study descriptions may be found in Chapter 9.

Students enrolled in units of study offered by the Faculty of Science are required to familiarise themselves with the following key policies:

Special Arrangements
Students who are experiencing difficulty in meeting their assessment requirements due to competing essential community commitments may apply for Special Arrangements for examination and assessment.

Special Consideration
Students who have a serious illness or who have experienced misadventure which may affect their academic performance in a course or unit of study may request that they be given Special Consideration in relation to the determination of their results.

At Risk
To progress through a degree course, students are required to:

1. achieve the minimum Progression Rate specified by the faculty; in the Faculty of Science students must pass more than 50 per cent of the units attempted in each semester
2. pass any field or clinical work, practicum, or other unit of study mandated by the faculty (listed in your degree requirements).

If you do not meet the progress requirements, you will be identified as a student at risk.

Code of Conduct for Students
The University has clear expectations of students in respect of academic matters and personal behaviour.

Student Plagiarism: Coursework Policy and Procedure
The University of Sydney expects high standards of academic honesty in all student work. In particular, the University is opposed to and will not tolerate plagiarism.

Details on Special Arrangements, Special Consideration, Code of Conduct for Students, and Student Plagiarism Policy are provided in Chapter 1 of this handbook.

Inside the back cover of this handbook you will find a planner to help you map out your degree. It is recommended that you plan your studies carefully with an eye to your final years, so that you take the correct prerequisites in the preceding years. It will be useful to revisit this planner during your studies as your interests take more detailed shape.

Enrolment day FAQs

What is a 'major'?

Some degrees in the Faculty of Science require you to complete a major. A major is a specialisation in the senior year of your degree. A major is usually defined as 24 credit points of study at the senior level in a single science Area.

The Bachelor of Medical Science does not have majors.

How many credit points should I take per semester?

You should take 24 credit points each semester if you are a full-time student. There is an upper limit of 30 credit points per semester. If you take fewer than 18 credit points in each semester you will automatically become part-time.

To finish your degree in the recommended minimum time you will have to take 48 credit points per year, or 24 per semester. If you enrol part time you can take as few credit points as you like. You must keep in mind however that you have a 10 year limit to finish your degree. Students wishing to accelerate their degree programs may consider undertaking units offered at Summer School or undertaking up to 30 credit points each semester. The degree summary and sample program in this chapter assume you will enrol full-time.

Do I need to be full-time?

International students must enrol full-time in a minimum of 24 credit points per semester unless there are exceptional circumstances. Failure to enrol in 24 credit points per semester may have serious ramifications for your visa.

Australian citizens and permanent residents are considered full-time if they are enrolled in 18 or more credit points per semester.
Australian citizens and permanent residents who wish to receive a transport concession card must be full-time students.

If you receive any financial support, whether from a University scholarship or from the government, you may well need to enrol as a full-time student. You should carefully check the terms and conditions of that support before going part-time.

Can I take units of study from other faculties?

Yes. Students may take up to 12 credit points of non-Medical Science electives in the third year of the degree. You may take any unit in the faculties of Arts or Economics and Business for which you have the prerequisites. Each faculty website has links to departmental and unit of study information.

Also available are undergraduate units from any other faculty at the University. The onus is on you to get written permission from the relevant department and bring it to the Faculty of Science.

There are limits, and exclusions. You should refer to the degree summary sections of this chapter for specific information about your particular degree.

I have an offer for the Bachelor of Medical Science (first year entry) – can I apply for credit for previous tertiary study?

Yes. However, students enrolling as new students into the Bachelor of Medical Science award course are advised that credit will not enable you to proceed directly into core Intermediate BMED units of study. Prerequisites for Intermediate BMED units of study are such that anything less than 42 credit points of junior units of study specified in the resolutions for the degree will not enable students to undertake these units on entry to the award course. Only students admitted into second year entry for the Bachelor of Medical Science (UAC code: 512081/522081) will be able to proceed directly into second-year units of study.

No more than 48 credit points of credit can be offered towards the Bachelor of Medical Science. Credit will only be offered at junior level.

On the day that you enrol you must lodge an application for credit for previous study. Because of the large numbers of applications received at enrolment there can be a considerable delay in processing your application, but all credit offers will be sent to students well in advance of the last day to add a unit of study for the semester in which they enrol.

The faculty must sight originals of your academic transcripts, as well as detailed descriptions of prior units of study completed, as at the time of completion of the units. Descriptions will normally be an extract from a Handbook or a unit of study syllabus or outline, and should include the credit point value, learning outcomes, assessment details, texts and references, and contact details for each unit of study. You must bring this information with you on the day that you enrol.

On enrolment day you will have to make unit of study choices as if you have had no previous university study. Alternatively, you may be able to obtain special permission to enrol in intermediate or senior units of study by taking a copy of your transcript and unit of study descriptions to academic advisers for each individual unit of study. Unit of study Academic advisers are listed under unit of study descriptions in this Handbook.

Information on the application process for credit, including the application form, is available from the Faculty of Science website.

I have an offer for Bachelor of Medical Science (second year entry): do I need to apply for credit?

No, credit will be granted upon enrolment. You will enrol in second year units of study on the day of enrolment.

Are there any bridging courses available?

There are bridging courses in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics, designed to cover the assumed knowledge that students would normally cover in the HSC. They run in February each year after enrolment and are recommended for students who either didn’t take a subject at the HSC or feel they need some revision.

Who can enrol in Advanced units of study?

Advanced units of study are available to those students enrolled in any program in the Faculty of Science who have performed at a high level in science subjects in the HSC or who perform well in their studies at the University.

Consult a departmental adviser about your eligibility to enrol in advanced level subjects in the first year of study.

Students should also consult the unit of study Tables for assumed and prerequisite marks in the HSC required to enrol in Advanced units of study.

It is recommended that you enrol in no more than 24 credit points of Advanced units of study in a year. Advanced units of study are very demanding and students are required to perform at a higher standard than in the normal units of study.

What is the Talented Student Program?

The Talented Student Program (TSP) is unique to the University of Sydney. It is tailored to meet students’ individual needs and is restricted to the very top students.

Students may be able to bypass some first year study and enrol directly in a second year course. If you have outstanding results in any of your HSC science subjects you may wish to negotiate a special program of study with one of the departments in the Faculty of Science.

The Talented Student Program is available in most areas of Science. Students receive special supervision by academic staff and often engage in studies on an individual basis with small numbers of fellow students, all of whom have a special interest in the same subject.

Am I eligible for the Talented Student Program?

Entry to the TSP is by invitation from the Dean, which you should have received by the time you enrol. The following guidelines apply generally, although departments may have additional (and sometimes more stringent) requirements for entry into the program. To get into the program in your first year, you should normally have a ATAR (or equivalent) of at least 99.00 and a result in band 6 in at least one HSC Science subject area and/or a mark of 95 or better in HSC Mathematics Extension 2. For entry into the program in your second and third years, you should normally have a weighted average mark of 85 or over and a high distinction grade in the relevant subject area.

Bachelor of Medical Science (BMedSc)

Degree code: LH010

Summary of requirements
The requirements for the degree are set out in the Senate and Faculty Resolutions (see chapter 2) which should be read by all intending candidates. In particular it is important to ensure that any proposed course of study will comply with the basic requirements for the degree. Important aspects of the Resolutions are summarised below. The Resolutions should be consulted for any clarification of the summary points.

Enrolment guide
To complete your degree you must gain credit for at least 144 credit points. The 144 credit points required for the degree must include:

• at least 48 credit points from jnior units of study, comprising MBLG1001 and 12 credit points each from Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics (other than PHYS 1500) or Computational Science and 6 credit points from Biology
• no more than 60 credit points from junior units of study
• 48 credit points of intermediate core units of study listed in Table IV
• at least 36 credit points of Senior units of study taken from the subject areas of Anatomy/Histology, Biology (Genetics), Biochemistry, Cell Pathology, Immunology, Infectious Diseases, Microbiology, Pharmacology and Physiology
• no more than 12 credit points from units of study other than core units of study.

Students are required to have completed at least 42 credit points of the core intermediate units of study prior to enrolment in any senior units of study. It is possible for students to ‘carry’ up to 6 credit points of core or elective units from the intermediate year into the senior year, provided that these units of study are not prerequisites for electives they may wish to undertake in the senior year.

You should also note the following:

• you cannot count any unit of study with the grade Pass (Concessional) toward the degree
• units of study completed at the University of Sydney Summer School which correspond to units of study in the table of undergraduate units of study may be credited towards the course requirements
• a standard full time enrolment is 24 credit points per semester; less than 18 credit points per semester is considered to be part time
• you may not enrol in more than 30 credit points in any one semester without permission
• in order to enrol in a unit of study, you have to meet any prerequisites and corequisites for that unit of study
• advanced units of study are indicated by a 9 (or 8) as the second digit of the unit of study code. Entry to these units of study is limited (details can be obtained from departments)
• once the award course requirements of 144 credit points have been satisfied a student may not enrol in additional units of study without first obtaining permission from the Dean
• if a student fails or discontinues enrolment in one unit of study twice, a warning will be issued that if the unit is failed a third time, the student may be asked to show good cause why he or she should be allowed to re-enrol in that unit of study. This is in addition to the University's At Risk policy
• students should note that BMED units are mandated units. Failure in a mandated unit is a trigger for the University's At Risk policy.

The combination MATH1003 and 1004 or 1903 and 1904 is not recommended in this degree. Students wishing to study Statistics/Calculus are advised to select from MATH1003, 1005, 1903, 1905, 1013, 1015.

Plans of study
It is important when choosing units of study at any stage of your university career that you consider your overall degree program. There is a sample degree program below and a degree planner inside the back cover.

Units of study
The Science units of study available for this degree are set out in Table IV: Bachelor of Medical Science and in Table I: Bachelor of Science in chapter 3.

Honours
There will be honours courses in Anatomy, Biochemistry, Biology (Genetics), Cell Pathology, Histology and Embryology, Immunology, Infectious Diseases, Microbiology, Pharmacology and Physiology. Please refer to "Honours units of study" in this chapter, and "Honours in the Faculty of Science" in chapter 11.

Discontinuation
In some cases discontinuation can affect your access to units of study, prizes and scholarships. Deadlines for withdrawal and discontinuation can be found on the second page of this handbook.

Special permission
You should note that the faculty can, in certain circumstances, permit exceptions to the normal requirements for a degree. Applications should be made in writing to the Associate Dean (Undergraduate) after discussion with staff in the Faculty Office.

Transferring into the BMedSc degree program
A limited number of students may be permitted to transfer into the BMedSc course at the beginning of the Intermediate year from other degrees offered by the faculty, from other degrees offered by The University of Sydney or from other institutions. In order to transfer, students must achieve a Pass or better in all of the qualifying units of study, or units of study deemed equivalent by the faculty. Selection is based solely on performance in the first year subjects. Applicants should anticipate a WAM of about 75 as being necessary to gain admission. Students who wish to transfer must apply for admission to the BMedSc course through the Universities Admission Centre (domestic students) or the International Office (international students).

Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR)
The minimum ATAR for admission to the course varies every year.

BMedSc degree resolutions
See chapter 2.

Sample Bachelor of Medical Science

Combined BMedSc/MBBS degree

Degree codes: LH033/LH034

Summary of requirements
The requirements for the degree are set out in the Senate and Faculty Resolutions (see chapter 2) which should be read by all intending candidates.

A student may proceed through the degree of Bachelor of Science (Advanced) or the Bachelor of Medical Science to the degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery.

Enrolment guide
To qualify for the award of the degrees a student shall complete units of study to a total value of at least 336 credit points, and

• satisfactorily complete three SMTP units in the first three years of the program
• meet the requirements of the BSc (Adv) or BMedSc degree outlined above, and
• complete 192 credit points towards the MBBS degree as required by the Resolutions of the Faculty of Medicine.

Progression requirements
Students are required to maintain a minimum AAM of 65 or above and to satisfactorily complete three SMTP units of study in the first three years of the program. Students who fail to satisfy these requirements will be transferred to the BSc (Adv) or BMedSc.


Plans of study
It is important when choosing units of study at any stage of your university career that you consider your overall degree program. See the Bachelor of Science (Advanced) or Bachelor of Medical Science entry for information about recommended first year combinations of units of study and the sample degree program. There is a degree planner inside the back cover. Consultation with a Faculty adviser is always recommended.


Units of study
The Science units of study available for this degree are set out in Table I: Bachelor of Science in chapter 3 and Table IV: Bachelor of Medical Science in this chapter. Unit descriptions appear in chapter 9. The Medicine units of study available for this degree are set out in the Faculty of Medicine handbook.


Honours
Students who qualify to undertake Honours in the BSc (Adv) or BMedSc degree may elect to do so by either suspending their candidature from the MBBS degree for one year, or after completion of the combined course. Please refer to "Honours units of study" in this chapter, and "Honours in the Faculty of Science" in chapter 11.


Abandoning and discontinuing
Students may abandon the combined degree course and elect to complete the BSc (Adv) or BMedSc degree.

In some circumstances, discontinuation can affect your access to units of study, prizes and scholarships. Deadlines for withdrawal and discontinuation can be found on the second page of this handbook.

Special permission
You should note that the faculty can, in certain circumstances, permit exceptions to the normal requirements for a degree. Applications should be made in writing to the Associate Dean (Undergraduate) after discussion with staff in the Faculty Office.

Supervision
Students will be under the general supervision of the Faculty of Science until the end of the semester in which they complete the requirements for the BSc (Adv) or BMedSc degree. After that they will be under the general supervision of the Faculty of Medicine.

Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR)
The minimum ATAR for admission into the course varies every year.

Degree resolutions
See chapter 2.

Honours in the BSc (Including all streams and combined degrees), BCST, BMedSc, BST
Admission
To qualify to enrol in an honours course, students shall:

1. (a) have qualified for the award of a relevant pass degree from the Faculty of Science, or
   (b) be a pass graduate of the Faculty of Science, or
   (c) be a pass graduate holding an equivalent qualification from another institution
2. have completed a minimum of 24 credit points of senior units of study relating to the intended honours course (or equivalent at another institution)
3. have achieved either
   (a) a credit average in the relevant Senior units of study, or
   (b) a SCIWAM of at least 65 (or equivalent at another institution)
4. satisfy any additional criteria set by the relevant Head of Department.

You should also note the following:

• Students shall complete the requirements for the honours course full-time over two consecutive semesters. If the faculty is satisfied that a student is unable to attempt the honours course on a full-time basis and if the Head of Department concerned so recommends, permission may be granted to undertake honours half-time over four consecutive semesters.
• Not all departments offer students part time enrolment in honours, or honours enrolment commencing in the July semester. Students considering these types of honours enrolment are urged to contact the Department concerned.
• A student may not re-attempt an honours course in a single subject area. A student who is qualified to enrol in two honours courses may either complete the honours courses in the two subject areas separately and in succession, or complete a joint honours course, equivalent to an honours course in a single subject area, in the two subject areas. A joint honours course shall comprise such parts of the two honours courses as may be decided by the Dean.
• An interdisciplinary honours course shall comprise such parts as determined by the Coordinating Committee for the interdisciplinary course.

Table IV – Bachelor of Medical Science